The day will begin with a quick trip on a regional train to a fantastic country market that has sprouted up alongside the tracks. Here, you can see the merchants' agility and quickness as they hastily dismantle their stands when the trains are near.

It's the norm, and shop owners are pros at setting up and breaking down their stalls in record time. The next stop is Tha Kha, one of several local floating marketplaces where you can experience Thai culture firsthand. Depending on the moon's phases, this market is open five to six times a month. When Tha Kha is closed, you can visit the nearby Ladplee Floating Market, a unique spot that recalls the early days of the more well-known Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

After that, you'll take a wonderful paddleboat ride through the klongs (canals) network, passing by farms and Buddhist temples en route to a homestay where you can sip palm sugar syrup and meet the proprietors.

Visit the locals as they stock up on fresh vegetables and other goods at the weekend floating market. In either case, you'll visit some of Thailand's most endearing local marketplaces with almost no other tourists.